Ice packed food container



July 16, 1963 J. J. MASl 3,097,781

ICE PACKED FOOD CONTAINER Filed Oct. 6, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f raver $7Jae vii JMQJZL July 16, 1963 J. J. MASI ICE PACKED FOOD CONTAINERZ-Sheets-Sheet 2 Illllli'f l w alllznrffdflill 311455!!! I Filed 001;. 61958 f 721/671137'" \fasepfi, J Mast United States Patent 3,097,781 ICEPACKED FOOD CONTAINER Joseph J. Masi, Bala-Cynwyd, Pa., assignor toContainer Corporation of America, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Oct. 6, 1958, Ser. No. 765,491 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-23) Thepresent invention relates to shipping containers and more particularlyto containers formed of heavy foldable paperboard suitable for shipmentof poultry and other meat products in cases in which it is desired toemploy ice in contact with the container contents.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved container forshipment of dressed poultry and other meats where cracked ice is to beplaced in contact with the contents.

Other objects are to provide internal reinforcing elements to give thecontainer improved stacking qualities; to provide finger openings tofacilitate carrying the container; to provide drainage openings topermit effective drainage of water formed as the ice within thecontainer melts; .and to locate both the finger openings and drainageopenings with respect to the reinforcing elements so that objectsexternal to the containers will not be likely to come into [contact withthe container contents.

A further object is to provide .a container with a flanged closure panelconstructed in such manner that part of the panel is hinged for easyaccess to the contents and another pant serves to reinforce and makemore rigid the top and end sections of the container.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings P16. 1 is :a perspective view of the container of thepresent invention showing it in its closed and sealed condition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the container with its hinged coverin raised position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a preferred form of blank from which the bodyand cover of the container may be formed;

FIG. 4 is a plan View of a preferred form of blank from which the endwall and the vertical reinforcing elements may be formed;

FIG. 5 is a top view taken in cross-section along line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an edge view, on an enlarged scale, of the blank illustratedin FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary edge view on an enlarged scale showing themanner of folding and securing together an end portion of thereinforcing element;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, showing how the pants are refoldedto move the reinforcing element to its expanded condition;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along 9-9 of FIG. 2showing how the hinged tab in the finger opening may be received withinthe expanded reinforcing element;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the drainage openingat a lower corner of the container;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on line 1111 of FIG.2, showing sealing means for the hinged closure;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11, showing the front portion of thecover in closed position with the sealing means in condition to retainthe cover closed;

FIGS. 13 and r14 are fragmentary edge views showing a modification ofthe portion of the end wall which includes the reinforcing element; and

3,097,781 Patented July 16, 1963 "ice FIGS. 15 and 16 are views similarto FIGS. 13 and 14, showing a further modification.

The invention as disclosed herein is embodied in a six sided container,preferably formed of relatively heavy paperboard. The top, bottom andtwo side walls are formed from a single blank. The top wall may comprisea flanged, hinged cover and the side walls and bottom may have attachingflaps by means of which the end wall may be secured as by stapling orgluing. The end walls may be identical. Each end wall is formed toinclude a vertically disposed, hollow reinforcing element. This isaccomplished by having edge extensions carried on vertical edges of theend wall. Such extensions are formed with a plurality of parallel foldlines to provide four panels. The fourth or outermost panel ispreferably presecured to the inner face of the end wall and is deliveredto the user in such condition. In order to keep the end wall assemblyrelatively flat, the assembly is folded so that the first panel remainsin the plane of the end wall while the two intermediate panels remain inthe plane of the fourth panel and these latter three panels may thus lieflat against the end Wall and first panel. By forming the container inthis manner the body blank and presecured end wall assembly may beshipped flat to the user, and by such user set up, preferably bystapling.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the container includes sidewalls 1 and 2, a bottom wall 3-, a top indicated as a whole at 4 and twoend walls indicated as a whole at 5, 5. As shown in FIG. 3 the top,bottom and two sides are preferably formed from a single blank ofrelatively heavy paperboard such as solid fibre board. This blank issuitably notched, cut and creased or scored to form the various wallsections. The side walls are defined from the bottom wall by score lines6, 6 and the top is defined from its attached side wall 2 by score line7. Score lines 8, 8 are impressed along the edges of the blank toprovide attaching flaps 9, 10 and 11 for the respective panels 1, 3 and2. The top 4 will be described in detail below.

The end wall, indicated as a whole at 5, preferably includes twovertically disposed reinforcing elements indicated generally at 14, 14.As shown in FIG. 4, the end wall assembly comprises a central section orpanel 15 and has impressed in each edge portion a series of parallelscore lines 16, 17, 18 and 19 to provide a plurality of hingedly relatedpanels 20, 21, 22 and 23. As shown herein, the panels 21 and 22 form theinwardly directed portions of the reinforcing element 14.

The end wall assemblies are preferably preglued or otherwise secured atthe container plant for the convenience of the user who will set up thecontainer. For this purpose the end wall assembly is folded to arelatively fiat shape and glued in such condition, ready for setting upto expand the reinforcing elements just prior to the operation ofsecuring the edges of the end wall to the attaching flaps of the bodyblank. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the end wall assembly is folded alongfold line 17, leaving the central panel 15 and panel 20 in a singleplane with panels 21, 22 and 23 overlying the first mentioned panels inan adjacent single plane. Prior to folding, suitable adhesive is appliedto panel 23, or to panel 15 at the place where panel 23 is to engage thepanel 15, and the parts are :held under suitable pressure until theadhesive has set. For facilitating the setting up of the end wall readyfor stapling to the body walls, certain of the score lines may beprebroken or prefoldedthis being an expedient well known in containermanufacture.

To aid in handling the container finger openings 25, 25 are cut in thepanel 15 in alignment with the reinforcing elements 14, 14 so that suchelements will bridge over the finger openings. It is preferred to cutthe finger openings around three sides only and score the fourth side,leaving within the opening a tab or flap 26 which is intended to beallowed to remain in position to close the opening until it is desiredto move the filled container by hand. As shown in FIG. 9, the flap 26may swing freely within the space formed by the angularly disposedpanels 21 and 22.

The top panel 4 may be secured to the other walls in any one of a numberof ways but preferably the top panel has a score line 27 impressedtherein parallel with the fold line 7 forming a stationary panel 28 anda hinged panel 29. Flaps or flanges 30 and 31 are provided on the panels28 and 29 respectively and an end flap or flange 32 is provided on theblank at the front or free edge of the hinged panel 29. By separatingthe front flap 32 from flaps 31, 31 by slits a pair of corner flaps 33,33 is provided. By folding the flaps 31, 31 and 32 at right angles tothe hinged panel 29 and securing the corner flaps 33, 33 to the flap 32a cover flange on three sides of the hinged cover panel may be formed.The flap 30 is preferably separated from companion flap 31 by means ofan inclined slit 34.

A preferred manner for manually setting up the container will now bedescribed. The body blank will be held with the flap 8 on the bottompanel folded at right angles to such panel. One end wall assembly willbe placed against the flap 8 with the reinforcing panels 21 and 22disposed at right angles to such flap and staples will be driven throughthe central edge portion of the end wall to join it to the flap '8. Theoperator will next grasp the end wall assembly in both hands and applyinward pressure along fold lines 17, 17, causing the panels 20, 21 and22 to assume the position shown in FIG. 8. While the end is so held, theoperator will drive a retaining staple near the top of the end wall soit will pass through the panels 15 and 20, thus holding the narrow panel20 in preliminary position against the main panel 15 of the end wall.The operator may then staple the flaps 9 and 11 successively to securethe end wall assembly along the vertical corners of the container. Thestaples will thus pass through three layers of paperboard, that is,narrow panel 20, central panel 15 of the end wall, and one of thevertical attaching flaps-see particularly FIG. 9. At the same time thehollow, V-shaped reinforcing elements 14 will be secured in permanentexpanded position.

After securing the bottom and vertical corners of the container at eachend, the operator will staple the short flaps 30, 30 to the end wall, asindicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Preferably these staples will pass throughpanel 15 and narrow panel 23. The cover flanges or flaps 31, 31 and 32may be secured together at any desired time, either before or after theother stapling operations just described.

It is to be noted that by utilizing a part of the top panel 4 as astationary closure and stapling the flaps 30, 30 to the end walls thetendency of the end walls to bulge outward due to pressure of thecontents will be kept to a minimum.

Means are preferably provided for releasably locking the cover panel 29in closed position. For this purpose slots 37, 37 are formed in thefront wall and through these slots flexible elements such as wire loops38 are inserted. These may be held in place by stapling a piece ofpaperboard 39 over the wire loop where it passes in contact with theinside face of the front wall. Slots 40, 40 are formed in the coverpanel to receive the upwardly extending portion of the wire loop. Asshown in FIG. 12, after the cover panel has been closed, at the sametime inserting the wire loops through the slots 40, the upper ends ofthe loops may be bent down and the lower end of each may be insertedthrough the bent over ends, after which the lower end may again be bentdownward (see FIG. 12) thus releasably locking the container cover inclosed position.

Means are provided for drainage at the lower corners of the container.For this purpose the slots indicated at 42, 42 on each end of theattaching flanges are made relatively wide and are cut to extend a shortdistance into the body blank along score lines 6, 6. In order to locatethe openings so they will not be obstructed to any appreciable extent bythe corners of the end assembly, the slots '42 are formed so that oneedge of the slot extends substantially in alignment with the score line.The slots are thus cut principally from the material of the fiaps 9 and11 and the side walls 1 and 2. By this construction, when the containeris formed, an effective drainage opening 43 is provided at each corner.

Variations in the container end assembly may be made as shown in FIGS.13 to 16, inclusive. In FIGS. 13 and 14 the extended portion at each endof the central panel 15a may comprise narrow panels 20a, 21a, 22a and23a. The construction and manner of assembling is substantially the sameas shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, except that the panel 23a is made narrowerthan panel 23 and it is folded inwardly of the reinforcing elementindicated as a whole at Ma.

In FIGS. 15 and 16 the panel 23b is made wider than either panels 23 or23a. This panel, as shown, extends substantially to the edge of panel20b so that when the reinforcing element 141; is brought to expandedposition the panel 2312 will completely underlie the element 14b andextend to the edge the panel 15b. The container vertical corners willthus be made even more rigid as this construction, together with thefront and rear wall flanges at the respective corners will provide fourthicknesses of paperboard.

It is to be noted that since the vertical reinforcing elements are of alength equal to the inside vertical dimension of the container, portionsof the top closure will rest upon the upper edges of the elements,there-by giving the containers excellent stacking qualities. Inaddition, the employment of three thicknesses of paperboard (or fourthicknesses as in the case of the modified form shown in FIGS. 15 and16) adds appreciably to the stiffness of the corners. It is possible,therefore to utilize somewhat lighter weight paperboard than otherwiseand still have excellent stacking qualities.

By locating the reinforcing elements so they are spaced somewhat fromthe vertical corners of the container the contents of the container,especially in the case of dressed poultry, is not likely to come intoclose relation to the drainage openings and thus not likely to come intocontact with exterior objects which might tend to contaminate thecontainer contents.

By locating the finger openings so that they communicate only with theinterior of the reinforcing elements rather than opening into thecontainer, the container contents will be protected from any directcontact with the hands of operators handling the filled containers.Also, since the finger opening does not go to the interior of thecontainer, maximum end wall insulation can be maintained.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the present invention provides asturdy and eflicient form of reinforced container which may be partiallyprepared at the container plant and completed by the user who needs onlyto have a container stapling machine. The blanks for the container maybe shipped to the user in fiat form and require only a relatively smallamount of storage space while awaiting use. The container after beingloaded with its contents may have its cover quickly and easily sealedand easily unsealed when access to contents is desired. By providingfinger openings in pairs placed near the vertical corners of thecontainer, the loaded containers may be grasped and lifted from eitherthe front or rear, or two persons may at the same time carry thecontainer by utilizing the finger openings.

While the present description sets forth certain preferred embodimentsof the invention, numerous changes may be made in the constructionwithout departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is thereforedesired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appendedclaims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope ofthe invention;

I claim:

1. A reinforced container formed of foldable sheet material, comprisinga rectangular end wall, an elongated body blank comprising a bottom andtwo side walls, said side walls having corner flaps extending from atleast one end thereof to which the side portions of the end wall may besecured, said end wall having an extended portion on at least one of itslateral edges defined from such lateral edge by a fold line, said edgeportion including four foldable panels defined from each other by foldlines parallel with the fold line between the end Wall and its extendededge portion, the first panel hinged at the edge of the end wall and thefourth or end-most panel being each disposed flatwise against the innerface of the end wall, the positioning of the fourth panel on the endwall being such that the two intermediate panels extend inward inV-shape, providing a vertical reinforcing element on the end wall, andmeans for securing the first panel and its attached end wall edgeportion to the vertical corner flap on a side Wall.

2. An end wall for use in constructing a container which includes a bodyportion comprising integrally hinged side and bottom walls with securingflaps at the ends of the side walls for attachment to the vertical edgeportions of the end wall, such end wall comprising a central panel andan extended edge portion hinged along a fold line on each of itsopposite vertical edges, each extended edge portion including fourfoldable panels separated from each other by fold lines extendingparallel with the fold line between the end wall and extended edgeportion, the fourth or outermost panel of the extended edge portionbeing secured to the inner face of the end wall at a location spacedinward of the end wall vertical edge a distance so that the first andfourth panels lie in a single plane against the first panel and endwall, the distance between the first and fourth panels being such thatthe two intermediate panels converge inwardly of the end wall in V-shapeand thereby definewith the central panel a generally triangularstructure, the vertical edge portions of such end wall assembly beingadapted for stapling connection with vertical end flaps on the sidewalls.

3. A reinforced container formed of foldable paper board, comprising:

(a) a horizontally disposed bottom wall;

(b) a plurality of interconnected vertically disposed side walls of thesame height connected to and upstanding from said bottom wall; and

(c) at least one vertically disposed V-shaped reinforceing memberpositioned entirely within the container against one of said side walls;

(cl) said member including a pair of vertically extending side panelsattached to said one side wall in parallel relationship therewith, and

(e) a pair of uninterrupted inwardly converging vertically extendingcenter panels;

(f) said center panels being hingedly interconnected at their inneredges throughout their entire length and being hingedly connected attheir outer edges to the respective side panels;

(g) all of the panels of said member being of the same height as theside walls of the container;

(h) one of said reinforcing member side panels being disposed at acorner of the container adjacent another side wall of the container andbeing hingedly connected to said other side wall.

4. A reinforced container according to claim 3, and including avertically extending flap hingedly attached to an edge of said otherwall and disposed at right angles to said other wall in parallelrelation with said one Wall, and means interconnecting said flap, saidone wall, and said one side panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,653,116 Parks Dec. 20, 1927 1,799,338 Weaver Apr. 7, 193 1 2,006,203Leslie June 25, 1935 2,026,417 Conway et al. Dec. 31, 1935 2,519,831Frankenstein Aug. 22, 1950 2,682,362 Larson et al June 29, 19542,766,923 DEsposito Oct. 16, 1956 2,797,039 Belsinger June 25, 19572,823,846 George Feb. 18, 1958 2,837,266 Sarnoff June 3, 1958 2,863,597Strine Dec. 9, 1958 2,885,140 Guyer May 5, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 556,550Italy Feb. 6, 1957 778,310 Great Britain July 3, 1957

3. A REINFORCED CONTAINER FORMED OF FOLDABLE PAPER BOARD, COMPRISING:(A) A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED BOTTOM WALL; (B) A PLURALITY OFINTERCONNECTED VERTICALLY DISPOSED SIDE WALLS OF THE SAME HEIGHTCONNECTED TO AND UPSTANDING FROM SAID BOTTOM WALL; AND (C) AT LEAST ONEVERTICALLY DISPOSED V-SHAPED REINFORCEING MEMBER POSITIONED ENTIRELYWITHIN THE CONTAINER AGAINST ONE OF SAID SIDE WALL; (D) SAID MEMBERINCLUDING A PAIR OF VERTICALLY EXTENDING SIDE PANELS ATTACHED TO SAIDONE SIDE WALL IN PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH, AND (E) A PAIR OFUNINTERRUPTED INWARDLY CONVERGING VERTICALLY EXTENDING CENTER PANELS;(F) SAID CENTER PANELS BEING HINGEDLY INTERCONNECTED AT THEIR INNEREDGES THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE LENGTH AND BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED ATTHEIR OUTER EDGES TO THE RESPECTIVE SIDE PANELS; (G) ALL OF THE PANELSOF SAID MEMBER BEING OF THE SAME HEIGHT AS THE SIDE WALLS OF THECONTAINER; (H) ONE OF SAID REINFORCING MEMBER SIDE PANELS BEING DISPOSEDAT A CORNER OF THE CONTAINER ADJACENT ANOTHER SIDE WALL OF THE CONTAINERAND BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID OTHER SIDE WALL.